The Most Important Thing in Life -- By: William W. Orr

Journal: Bibliotheca Sacra
Volume: BSAC 105:419 (Jul 1948)
Article: The Most Important Thing in Life
Author: William W. Orr


The Most Important Thing in Life

William W. Orr

What is the most important thing in life? Yes, that is what we must know. What is most important? Life is filled with a multitude of voices, duties, opportunities, each clamoring for our time and attention. But life is brief, and must come to an end some day. We must give our attention to the things which are most important. What, then, is most important?

It cannot be the acquisition of wealth, for those who have sought and acquired wealth solemnly declare that it brings neither present satisfaction nor lasting happiness. It is not the attainment of the pinnacle of fame, for fame is daily proved to be a fickle and empty bubble. It is not education nor unselfish service for mankind, commendable as these may be from the human standpoint, for while these give satisfaction in this life they leave wholly unanswered the great questions of the life which is eternal.

Will you listen carefully as I tell you, and I’m dead in earnest, that the most important thing in life is for you to fulfill in your heart and life the plan and purpose of God who made you. It is our sincere belief that the Holy Bible contains the plan and purpose of God for all mankind. Let us gather this plan and purpose into one sentence, as we affirm that God’s desire for you is that you shall become a real Christian and live a true Christian life. What else in all of life can compare in importance with doing God’s will? Therefore it is imperative that we shall know what constitutes a real Christian and how to live the true Christian life.

What a Christian is not. We want to emphasize this, please, for there is so much foggy thinking about it. Too

many people are hoping, guessing, supposing that they are Christians and missing the real truth of what constitutes a Christian. Today many use the term “Christian” in a broad sense, to include everything which is not pagan. But this is not the Bible usage at all. A Christian is not one who is merely intelligent or of good character or is sober or who loves his wife and children. Do not misunderstand me, but church membership or baptism or benevolence or following the golden rule will in themselves never make one a true child of God. Or if you are relying on what you do not do—do not smoke, do not drink, do not swear, do not lie, steal, cheat—remember this, that God will never admit anyone into His heaven on what he has not done. And if you are trusting in a Christian parent or in good works or in Bible reading or in a high moral life, be assured that your name is in no wise entered into the Book of Life.

Do not become confused. Christians rightly practice many of th...

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